Expansion won't happen anytime soon

[The Great Dane]

actually I take it back, he commanded Greenberg to undertake a thorough review of expansion options and develop a strategy. Shame Vlandys put it in the bin because he likes Brisbane2.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/12/13/australian-rugby-league-commission-announce-footprint-study/

GRTD there’s a hell of a lot more chance the nrl will expand to 18 teams with perth (if Brisbane2 does ever happen) added then any hope of a Sydney team relocation, vlandys will be gone in 2-3 years, only a matter of time till he psses the clubs or states off and they pressure him out, who knows what the commission in a few years time will decide is the future of the game. We have no long term strategic plan so it remains at the whim of the people of the time.

Even if there was a long term strategic plan (for all we know that's exactly what Greenbergs' review was BTW) it'd still remain at the whim of the people of the time.

Just like V'landys chucked out Greenbergs review of expansion, probably because he didn't like the findings, the next commissioner or NRL CEO would throw out V'landys plan if he, and the people that backed him into power, didn't like it.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Gus Gould reckons a Sydney team will be lost within the next 20 years.

How many years notice would a new team in Perth need to build its infrastructure?

Would the ARLC have to prevent the other trams from signing players to long term contracts?

If the side was given 5 years notice, then maybe a limit of 5 year contracts for all the other teams, with Perth able to negotiate with players 2 or 3 years in advance of entering the NRL.

 

[Perth Red]

3 years planning would be ideal. Most players are off contract within three years. Would also give club a chance to launch in nsw cup and start signing young players who would be ready for first grade after three years. When the Reds were announced they signed about thirty quality young players and moved them over to perth to play in WARL comp. prior to kicking off in ‘95. We then signed some experienced players and put together a pretty decent squad for our first season with likes of Mark Geyer, Brad Mackay, Rodney Howe, Craig Innes, Brendan Tuuta, BJ Mathers and Michael Potter.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

3 years planning would be ideal. Most players are off contract within three years. Would also give club a chance to launch in nsw cup and start signing young players who would be ready for first grade after three years. When the Reds were announced they signed about thirty quality young players and moved them over to perth to play in WARL comp. prior to kicking off in ‘95. We then signed some experienced players and put together a pretty decent squad for our first season with likes of Mark Geyer, Brad Mackay, Rodney Howe, Craig Innes, Brendan Tuuta, BJ Mathers and Michael Potter.

Wouldn't it be cheaper for the West Coast Pirates to link up with a Brisbane club in the Queensland Cup?

 

[greenBV4]

Wouldn't it be cheaper for the West Coast Pirates to link up with a Brisbane club in the Queensland Cup?

Probably not
Melbourne's players in the qld cup sides seem to fly between Melbourne and Brisbane fairly often - not that big a deal, but frequent flights between Perth and Brisbane for training purposes is another story

Also in saying that, im hopefull the thunderbolts make the move up a tier in the nsw system in the near future, so that we can ditch one of the 2 qld cup sides (likely easts, with our connections to the Sunshine Coast i dont see that partnership going away anytime soon)

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Probably not
Melbourne's players in the qld cup sides seem to fly between Melbourne and Brisbane fairly often - not that big a deal, but frequent flights between Perth and Brisbane for training purposes is another story

Also in saying that, im hopefull the thunderbolts make the move up a tier in the nsw system in the near future, so that we can ditch one of the 2 qld cup sides (likely easts, with our connections to the Sunshine Coast i dont see that partnership going away anytime soon)

If Dolphins are given the 17th NRL licence then the Falcons will more likely than not team up with them. Regardless of tribalism and rivalries between Redcliffe and Sunshine Coast, it will be in the Falcons' best interest, as well as that of juniors from the Sunshine Coast RL.

If Easts are given the nod to be the 18th team, which isn't out of the question as their bid ticks all the boxes, then Melbourne will have to find another club. Firehawks can play all 12 matches at Lang Park and represent the southeastern suburbs of Brisbane, plus Logan. I actually prefer their bid over the Dolphins.

If West Coast Pirates were to field a team in the Queensland or NSW Cup, they would have to pay for travel and accommodation expenses for their team and every other club when they play in Perth. That's 17 players, plus the coach and possibly assistants. They would probably hire physios from Queensland to strap the players when playing away. Flying 6 or so players to and from Brisbane each week to play in the Queensland Cup would be far cheaper.

 

[Perth Red]

Unlike Storm though we would want a WA based second tier club. It gives younger players the opportunity to get used to heavy travel schedules ready for first grade and keeps a strong focus on generating WA players, not just using Qlnd or Sydney based players. Yes cost is a factor but we are doing for U18's so cant see why we wouldn't do it for reserve grade. The alternative would be to significantly raise the standard of the NRLWA first grade and farm Pirates reserve graders out to WA clubs, but that would need a long term plan.

 

[Dragonwest]

Unlike Storm though we would want a WA based second tier club. It gives younger players the opportunity to get used to heavy travel schedules ready for first grade and keeps a strong focus on generating WA players, not just using Qlnd or Sydney based players. Yes cost is a factor but we are doing for U18's so cant see why we wouldn't do it for reserve grade. The alternative would be to significantly raise the standard of the NRLWA first grade and farm Pirates reserve graders out to WA clubs, but that would need a long term plan.

Its important to manage the financial stress all those players put on the local comp. We can't have clubs going broke.

 

[Perth Red]

Its important to manage the financial stress all those players put on the local comp. We can't have clubs going broke.

i was thinking more like eagles and dockers, where they are paid by the nrl club and farmed out to NRLWA clubs.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

i was thinking more like eagles and dockers, where they are paid by the nrl club and farmed out to NRLWA clubs.

The standard of NRLWA is lightyears behind QLD Cup and NSW Cup. It would be difficult for squad members to transition from playing park football against amateurs to playing against professionals. By playing them in the Queensland Cup or NSW Cup it will give them a better opportunity to work on their game as they'll be playing against semi-professionals and professionals.

The coach wouldn't get a good gauge on a professional player's form by having him play against amateurs.

 

[Perth Red]

Thats why I said it would be a long term plan! My understanding is that most of the NSW and qlnd cup players not contracted to NRl clubs are semi professional and have other jobs?

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Moreton Bay Dolphins and Brisbane Firehawks should both be added.

Broncos to rebrand as the Brisbane Spooners, finishing last each year and making a fortune selling wooden spoons at K-Mart. Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver can be their spokesmen.

 

[mongoose]

Expansion articles incoming on The Roar.... - https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/12/09/tis-the-season-to-be-silly-lets-talk-nrl-expansion/

 

[flippikat]

Expansion articles incoming on The Roar.... - https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/12/09/tis-the-season-to-be-silly-lets-talk-nrl-expansion/

I don't agree with one of his arguments against relocations (another city won't accept Sydney's castoffs). Admittedly, a home-grown brand is ideal, but failing that I think many aspiring NRL cities would accept a relocated club *IF* they genuinely commit to their new home (no half measures).

Sure, Brisbane may not accept a Sydney relocation, due to the big rugby league rivalry with Sydney.. but Perth, & Adelaide MAY - if that's the only way to get a seat at the table. Likewise with New Zealand - even though we have some decent rugby league history, we don't have the rusted-on hate of NSW that Queensland does.

After all, the AFL relocations weren't to Adelaide or Perth (other strong AFL cities that had an AFL rivalry with all things Melbourne) - they were to cities away from AFL heartland.

 

[mongoose]

So many people have the same flimsy argument against expansion - "talent pool isn't large enough" but then they try and back this argument up with illogical points such as: "half the players in the Dragons top 30 wouldn't even make the Storm run on side!" Well no f**king shit! The Storm won the premiership, the Dragons came near last. That is the whole idea behind professional team sport, some teams are very good and some are not.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

They always mention the talent pool being too shallow.

AFL has done alright for its self with such a shallow gene pool.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

So many people have the same flimsy argument against expansion - "talent pool isn't large enough" but then they try and back this argument up with illogical points such as: "half the players in the Dragons top 30 wouldn't even make the Storm run on side!" Well no f**king shit! The Storm won the premiership, the Dragons came near last. That is the whole idea behind professional team sport, some teams are very good and some are not.

If teams are added one at the time then the player base shouldn't be impacted too much.

Expansion under Arthurson and Quayle in 95 was destined to fail as they put 4 in at once.

I'd add 17th in 2023 and 18th in 2028-30, with extra funding given to the U16s, U18s, U21s and State Cups to bridge the gap between the NRL and reserve grade.

The Tigers could work in Brisbane if their licence was given to the Easts Tigers and rebranded as the Brisbane Tigers.

 

[Perth Red]

They keep saying it but a) it’s impossible to quantify b) if it is true then why the frick havent we done something about it c) more clubs equals more opportunity for players that would otherwise miss out, not because they arent good enough but because there isnt the opportunity and d) nrl has the benefit of signing from SL, union, pacific islands, more kiwi kids and god forbid actually investing in new growth areas.

 

[Perth Red]

I don't agree with one of his arguments against relocations (another city won't accept Sydney's castoffs). Admittedly, a home-grown brand is ideal, but failing that I think many aspiring NRL cities would accept a relocated club *IF* they genuinely commit to their new home (no half measures).

Sure, Brisbane may not accept a Sydney relocation, due to the big rugby league rivalry with Sydney.. but Perth, & Adelaide MAY - if that's the only way to get a seat at the table. Likewise with New Zealand - even though we have some decent rugby league history, we don't have the rusted-on hate of NSW that Queensland does.

After all, the AFL relocations weren't to Adelaide or Perth (other strong AFL cities that had an AFL rivalry with all things Melbourne) - they were to cities away from AFL heartland.

biggest issue I can see with relocation (part from its never going to happen!) is ownership. LC won’t give up the license or brand and who wants to follow a club in one city owned and run by a LC in another?

 

[The Great Dane]

The Tigers could work in Brisbane if their licence was given to the Easts Tigers and rebranded as the Brisbane Tigers.

That's not a relocation lol.

If Wests sold their license to Easts and Easts relocated it to Brisbane that'd be a relocation, but the NRL (or whomever else) just giving Wests' license to Easts would be kicking one club out and replacing it with the other.

Either way neither is going to happen, because Wests would never sell and the NRL doesn't have the balls.